Cooper 50th anniversary

John Cooper and Bettie Burgett were married July 28, 1963, in Stroud at the First Baptist Church with Rev. James Wright officiating. Willie Smith served John as best man, and Joan Smith served Bettie as matron of honor.

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The Shawnee News-Star

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Posted Jul. 12, 2013 at 3:56 AM
Updated Jul 12, 2013 at 3:58 AM

Posted Jul. 12, 2013 at 3:56 AM
Updated Jul 12, 2013 at 3:58 AM

SHAWNEE

John Cooper and Bettie Burgett were married July 28, 1963, in Stroud at the First Baptist Church with Rev. James Wright officiating. Willie Smith served John as best man, and Joan Smith served Bettie as matron of honor.

John served in The United States Army for three years. During that time he taught classes to build and operate the “Hercules” guided missiles while building and launching those missiles himself. He also worked 40 years as an “Auto Din” technician at Tinker Air Force Base with a background in microwave transmission. The Santa Fe Depot Museum displays a train model depicting 1940 Shawnee and was built with a great deal of John’s help. He walks 2 miles each day with a group of friends at Shawnee Mall and was very instrumental in the creation process of the New Beginning’s Church located in Shawnee. John has a passion for reading and building model airplanes, cars and trains.

Bettie was a homemaker as well as the manager of the Highland Trailer Park for 25 years. When the children were all in grade school, she began sewing for the public and later became employed by The Buckle at the Shawnee Mall where she still works. She was also the secretary for Calvary Baptist Church for 30 years. Bettie’s hobbies included cake decorating as well as arts and crafts.

Together, John and Bettie helped with school projects, Campfires, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. They have been members of RSVP, AARP, VITA, OHCA, and Woodman of the World. While members of Woodmen of the World, they were instrumental in placing three flag poles displaying the American and Oklahoma Flag at community churches. They both work Pottawatomie County Election Board. Their hobbies have included bowling and vacationing in Branson, Mo.

They are the parents of Jean Cooper of El Reno, Willie and Carrol Cooper of Shawnee, and Mary Cooper of Shawnee.

Their grandchildren are James Porter of McLoud, Jason Porter of El Reno, Christian and Shelly Oliver of Warr Acres, Kris and Amber Stephens of Oklahoma City, Trevor Cooper of Shawnee, and Christopher Cooper of Shawnee. Their great-grandchildren are Keaton Porter and Logan Porter of El Reno, Brogan Oliver and Rhys Oliver of Warr Acres.

A reception is being hosted by their children and will be from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, July 28, 2013, at Oklahoma Baptist University’s Noble Complex. They would enjoy the presence of their friends and family.